Wildlife

UK Common Buzzard Welfare and Lead Poisoning

The welfare impact of lead ammunition poisoning on common buzzards and other UK raptors.

Key Facts

Lead poisoning from spent shot in game animals is a significant raptor welfare issue
Buzzards scavenging shot quarry species ingest lead fragments causing severe poisoning
Lead-free copper ammunition is an effective alternative with no wildlife welfare impact
UK has introduced voluntary lead-free shooting guidance but mandatory requirements are lacking
Post-mortem studies find lead in a significant proportion of examined raptors

Welfare Considerations

Lead poisoning causes severe neurological suffering and death in raptors, and transition to lead-free ammunition would eliminate this entirely preventable welfare harm.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for mandatory lead-free ammunition in shooting
Advocate for rapid transition to copper ammunition to protect raptor welfare
Report suspected poisoned raptors to police wildlife crime units